California prosecutors charged a male nanny named Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski from Costa Mesa, who worked for families in southern California, with 34 felonies and received 707 years of imprisonment on Friday.
Zakrzewski was also convicted of sexually assaulting 16 young boys under his care and showed sexual abuse material to the boys.
Prosecutors Charge Male Nanny With 34 Felonies
A judical officer brings a handcuffed defendant into the courtroom in Dresden, eastern Germany, on March 29, 2022, for the continuation of the trial over a jewellery heist on the Green Vault (Gruenes Gewoelbe) museum in Dresden's Royal Palace in November 2019. - Six members of a notorious criminal gang are on trial in Germany over the spectacular heist in which 18th-century jewels were snatched from the state museum in Dresden. They are accused of gang robbery and arson after the brazen night raid on The Green Vault museum on November 25, 2019.
The prosecutors reported that Zakrzewski was convicted in October and received 707 years in prison during his hearing on Friday. According to the prosecutors, Zakrzewski did not apologize in his statement to the court.
He said that he brought smiles to the children, and they have shared 100% genuine and good times. The victim's parents wept in tears while covering their ears as they did not want to hear Zakrzewski's lies.
The mother of the boy read victim impact statements in court and said that her two-year-old son was molested and expressed her distress over not being able to meet his son, who should not have been assaulted.
Zakrzewski was first arrested in May 2019 after a couple reported to the Laguna Beach police that he touched their 8-year-old son inappropriately. He was found at a local airport and left on an international flight.
The investigation revealed more alleged victims, and he was charged with 34 felonies, including vulgar and lustful acts with a minor. Furthermore, he also filmed many of his committed crimes on the children between January 2014 and May 2019.
The attorney's office said that one felony count of oral copulation of a child under ten years old and one felony count of possession of child pornography.
The investigators said that the identified victims ranged from two to 12 years old. The local district attorney, Todd Spitzer, noted that a jury convicted Zakrzewski on all counts.
Spitzer said that the young boys were forced to endure unimaginable terror as a result of the ultimate betrayal by a babysitter. Furthermore, Spitzer said that Zakrzewski manipulated the children who taught the victims to lie and keep secrets from their parents.
"The sexual exploitation of children is meant to destroy the smallest of souls, and this monster disguised by smiles and giggles engaged in the most horrific and calculated manipulation to ensure he would continue to have unfettered access to what these parents cherish the most - their children," Spitzer said.
The investigators asked help from the public to identify other potential victims through video evidence for additional charges.
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Child Abuse
Childhelp helps to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. In the US, the Childhelp abuse hotline can be reached at 800-422-4453 and on their website to report child abuse.
In the UK, NSPCC supports children on 0800 1111 and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. Furthermore, young adults, parents, and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or Bravehearts at 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation at 1300 657 380 in the UK.
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